MLMD -Chapter 418 Taking a Loss

Yue Yang returned to his temporary residence in Weihaiwei. It was a courtyard with three openings at the front and four at the back. The space wasn’t very large, but it was the biggest house he could find there. Currently, only Yue Yang and a group of personal guards lived there to ensure his safety.

Once back at his residence, Yue Yang began to ponder deeply. The timber for shipbuilding was proving to be a major problem. After so many years of logging, it was already difficult to find large forests suitable for shipbuilding in the inland regions of the Ming. Even if such forests existed, they were deep in remote mountains, making transportation both long and difficult.

“If only I could go to the modern era… that would be the only way!”

The thought had barely formed before Yue Yang dismissed it himself. Trees suitable for shipbuilding needed to be decades old at least, and the environment in the modern era was already degraded. If he went there to chop trees, it would be sheer destruction.

“Chopping trees is out of the question. Better wait a few days for the jade pendant to recover, then make a trip to the modern era to move cement. Who would have thought a proud marquis like me would end up as a cement porter… the further I go, the more I fall back. Sigh… cement is one thing, but big trees are hard to find!” Yue Yang couldn’t help but sigh at the thought.

Just as he was fretting over the large trees needed for shipbuilding, Chen Dazhi’s voice came from outside:

“Marquis, a merchant is requesting an audience.”

“A merchant? Requesting an audience?” Yue Yang walked to the door, curious. What had happened to Chen Dazhi—why was he being so reckless now? Did anyone who wanted to see him now get to just walk in?

Seeing Yue Yang’s slightly reproachful gaze, Chen Dazhi hurried to explain:

“Marquis, it’s not that I am rash, but this merchant presented me with this token. I dared not act on my own, so I had to report it to you.” With that, Chen Dazhi took something out of his pocket and handed it to Yue Yang.

Yue Yang looked. It was a waist token, engraved with both Manchu and Chinese characters. Yue Yang didn’t understand a single Manchu character, but he could read the Chinese, which said: “Grand Secretary of the Inner Secretariat of the Great Qing”.

“The visitor is from the Qing!” Yue Yang was slightly surprised and immediately asked, “How many of them are there?”

“Only a dozen or so,” Chen Dazhi replied quickly.

“Only a dozen and they dare come here to see me—they’re bold!” Yue Yang wasn’t angry upon seeing a token representing the enemy; rather, he was curious. After all, the Qing were mortal enemies. Who was audacious enough to show up on his territory?

Seeing Yue Yang deep in thought, Chen Dazhi carefully asked, “Marquis, shall I bring them in?”

Yue Yang nodded. “Yes, bring the leader in. But pay attention to security, and have more guards stationed around. Understand?” For Yue Yang, it was impossible to overemphasize safety. After all, as Paul Korchagin once said, life is precious, and there is only one.

“Yes, Marquis!”

After a while, Chen Dazhi left, and faint footsteps soon sounded outside. A middle-aged man of average build with a kindly smile entered. He bowed deeply before Yue Yang and said loudly:

“Grand Secretary of the Inner Secretariat of the Great Qing, Second Class Jala Chief Fan Wencheng greets Marquis Zhongyong. May Marquis Zhongyong enjoy health and fortune!”

“What… Fan Wencheng?” Yue Yang was surprised upon hearing the visitor’s name. “You are Fan Wencheng?”

“Marquis… you know me?” Fan Wencheng was also slightly startled. In the future, he would be infamous, comparable to a Qin Hui, but at this time, his reputation was not known in the Ming. Seeing Yue Yang recognize him by name, he was taken aback.

“The famous Fan Wencheng, of course I know him!” Yue Yang said with some feeling. He hadn’t expected this future notorious traitor to be neither sharp-faced nor sly-eyed, but rather an ordinary-looking, seemingly honest man—truly a case of judging by appearance being unreliable. Of course, appearances aren’t always indicators of character; even notorious traitors like Wang Jingwei were known for their good looks.

Hearing Yue Yang, Fan Wencheng became more cautious. As a Han man serving the Manchus, he was usually careful to avoid drawing attention. Now, Yue Yang—a powerful figure in the Ming—knew him so well. Naturally, he was alarmed.

Seeing Fan Wencheng’s wary expression, Yue Yang smiled faintly and pointed to a chair: “Mr. Fan, please sit.”

“Thank you, Marquis!” Fan Wencheng forced himself to calm down and sat.

Yue Yang looked at him and asked calmly, “Mr. Fan, may I ask the purpose of your visit?”

Fan Wencheng took a deep breath and bowed: “Marquis Yue, I am here on orders from the Emperor of the Great Qing to…”

“Wait…”

Yue Yang interrupted with a faint, cold smile. “Mr. Fan, the ‘Emperor of the Great Qing’ you mentioned must be Dorgon, right? May I ask, when did a supreme ruler become so worthless that any barbarian from a backwater can declare himself emperor?”

“I…”

Fan Wencheng felt a rush of anger constricting his chest. He took two deep breaths and forced himself to speak: “Marquis Yue, please show respect. Our Great Qing was founded in the first year of Tianming by our founder, and later Emperor Xianwen renamed the Great Jin as the Great Qing. The affairs of our Qing are now a fact. Denial is futile.”

“Heh… Great Qing?”

Yue Yang sneered. “If I remember correctly, Nurhaci was the godson of our Ming general Li Chengliang, also appointed a Dragon-Tiger General. Once his power grew, he rebelled after General Li died. After decades of conquest, he seized Shenyang—what you call Shengjing—unifying the Jurchens to establish the Later Jin. Then Huang Taiji thought the title of Khan was too lowly and declared himself emperor. Now Huang Taiji is dead, and his brother Dorgon also calls himself emperor. I wonder—are all Manchus this shameless? A mere tribe of 100,000 soldiers and a million people dares to call themselves emperors. Truly thick-skinned!”

“You…”

Fan Wencheng stood angrily, pointing at Yue Yang: “Marquis Yue, I respect you as a Ming marquis, yet you insult my Great Qing. Are you not afraid of provoking conflict between our nations?”

“Hahaha…”

Yue Yang laughed harder and harder, until he finally pointed at Fan Wencheng and said: “Conflict between two nations? Tell me, if I wanted to provoke a conflict, what could you do? Don’t use your Great Qing as an excuse. If I wanted, I could march tens of thousands of troops to Shengjing anytime. If you don’t like it, let your Eight Banners come and try to stop me.”

“You…”

Fan Wencheng felt like he was facing a madman—aggressive, reckless, and yet powerful enough that all his prepared strategies and words were useless. He sat back down, swallowing his anger, and said: “Marquis Yue, I came with the utmost sincerity. If word of your repeated insults spreads, it would dishonor you, wouldn’t it?”

“Oh… so I really made a mistake? Should I apologize?” Yue Yang replied casually. “Alright, then. No more insults. Speak your purpose.”

“Very well!” Fan Wencheng began, but noticed the fleeting smile in Yue Yang’s eyes. He realized Yue Yang had deliberately provoked him to distract him and seize the upper hand in the conversation—a sly fox, not a madman. Fan Wencheng’s respect and caution increased.

Regaining composure, Fan Wencheng bowed: “Marquis Yue, whether you like it or not, the Great Jin has been established. No matter your ridicule, facts remain. Isn’t that so?”

“Heh… fine. Explain your purpose,” Yue Yang replied, alert. Only someone capable enough to recover quickly from anger could leave a mark in history.

Fan Wencheng said: “Marquis Yue, on orders from the Emperor of the Great Qing, I am to propose an agreement. The Qing wishes to reach an understanding with your forces in Liaodong. Your Xuanda army will not attack the Qing or support Mongol tribes hostile to us, such as Khorchin or Chahar. In return, we promise Qing iron will not enter Ming borders. The two nations can share peace. What say you, Marquis?”

“%￥#@!&…”

Yue Yang stared at Fan Wencheng, dumbfounded. After a long silence, Fan Wencheng nervously asked: “Marquis Yue, may I ask the meaning of your gaze?”

“Nothing. I’m just curious how you can make such shameless demands,” Yue Yang said. “Tell me, what leverage does your Qing have to make such unreasonable requests? You merely wish to exterminate disobedient Mongol tribes, rest for decades, and then come back. You and Dorgon truly think I’m a fool?”

Fan Wencheng smiled faintly, unshaken: “Marquis Yue is insightful. But I wonder—why, with your tens of thousands in Liaodong, do you not march on Shengjing after the late emperor’s death, yet occupy Liaodong without moving?”

“Ha ha ha…”

Yue Yang laughed, now showing a hint of admiration. This man could make future patriots gnash their teeth in anger for a reason—strategic, calm, and deliberate, yet willing to serve the Manchu. What a pity!

Fan Wencheng pointed out Yue Yang’s strategy in Liaodong. Yue Yang was unsurprised; many Ming officials likely understood it too. But so what? Yue Yang had countless enemies, and even Emperor Chongzhen initially feared him.

Fan Wencheng, like a cunning snake, said: “Marquis Yue, the Ming court doubts you. They cannot act against you for two reasons: one, you command heavy troops, making them cautious. Two, the Qing is nearby. Acting recklessly would eliminate a check and cause unpredictable results. Am I correct?”

“Hmm, you’re smart!” Yue Yang nodded. “No wonder Huang Taiji valued you.”

“Marquis Yue agrees?” Fan Wencheng asked with pleasure. “Before I came, the emperor said that if you submit to Qing, he would grant you a title and share the realm with you…”

“Enough!” Yue Yang’s cold snort filled the room. “Fan Wencheng, I treated you as a guest. If you keep talking nonsense, don’t blame me.”

Seeing Yue Yang’s fierce demeanor, Fan Wencheng wisely fell silent.

Yue Yang sneered: “Fan Wencheng, I admit you have some eloquence. But I command over 100,000 troops. If I wanted the throne, I would march on the capital. I don’t need to submit to the Manchu and wait for rewards. Do you think I kneel at every Manchu fart?

“I’ve kept my forces in check for self-protection, but don’t think I can’t act. Annoy me, and I’ll march on Shengjing and drive you back to the wilderness. Don’t test my patience.”

Direct words like these were most effective on someone like Fan Wencheng. After a pause, he smiled wryly and bowed: “Marquis Yue, I understand. What are your instructions?”

Yue Yang snorted: “Not instructions. Just tell Dorgon to behave for now. Ignore Khorchin. If you behave, I won’t trouble you. But if you want to profit from me, it won’t be easy. You saw the docks, right? I need timber to rebuild the navy. You can cut wood and sell it to me, and I’ll pay with silver or grain. How’s that for a deal?”

This was Yue Yang’s impromptu idea. The Manchus knew Liaodong best. Rather than circumvent them, he made his needs clear: timber for ships, silver or grain in return.

Fan Wencheng smiled wryly. Yue Yang’s words were so direct, unlike the roundabout manner of Ming officials. He could only agree.

“Then it’s settled,” Yue Yang said, satisfied. A large quantity of timber in exchange for some silver and grain—worthwhile by any measure.

“Mr. Fan, anything else?” Yue Yang asked, now in a good mood.

Fan Wencheng exhaled and bowed: “Nothing else.”

“Then I won’t keep you for a meal. Please go at your leisure.”

“Then I bid farewell!”

Seething with suppressed anger, Fan Wencheng left after a final bow.